<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="ghg" article_name="Health - General" number="18-316" title_number="18" title_name="Disease Prevention" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Specific Diseases">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, an individual immediately shall report to the local police or sheriff if the individual:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Knows that a dog, cat, or other warm blooded animal has bitten, scratched, or otherwise exposed an individual to a possible rabies infection; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Suspects that an animal has rabies.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>In Frederick County, the individual shall report to the animal control center of Frederick County.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>On receipt of a report under this section, the police, sheriff, or animal control center staff shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Notify the health officer for the county where the report is made; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Enforce all orders of the health officer and the public health veterinarian.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>If the public health veterinarian or the local health officer issues an order to surrender an animal that is suspected of having rabies, a person may not hide or secret the animal:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>In the custody of the person; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>In the custody or with the cooperation of any other person.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>A person who fails or refuses to comply with any provision of this section or any order issued under this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $500.</text>
  </level>
</section>
